Head of Clinical Operations – Ferring Ventures

Ferring Ventures (FV) operates independently from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, focusing on developing innovative therapies for serious diseases while strategically investing in promising biotech companies. FV aims to move research projects to value inflection points, up to the end of Phase 2, and to support other innovators through strategic investments. It focuses on areas with significant unmet needs for patients, making decisions quickly and operating with discipline and agility to maximise impact.

The Head of Clinical Operations is part of a small, highly entrepreneurial leadership team reporting directly to the Managing Director. The role combines clinical strategy, scientific leadership, and operational oversight—ensuring that FV’s programmes move efficiently from early phases toward proof-of-concept and value inflection.

Purpose of the Role:

• Co-shape, design and implement the FV strategy alongside the Managing Director
• Provide scientific and clinical support to Scientific Directors across early- and mid-stage programmes
• Ensure clinical studies are designed and executed with excellence
• Influence strategic decisions in FV’s governance bodies

You are ultimately accountable for the clinical value creation of FV’s portfolio. The Head of Clinical Operations will be responsible for the following, in close collaboration with the FV leadership team:

Main Accountabilities:

• Recommend, design, execute clinical development activities, adhering to agreed timelines, budget and quality standards. Support clinical development for all relevant phases (mostly I and II), ensuring robust early-phase strategy, clear go/no-go criteria, and data-driven decision-making.
• Together with the project teams, ensure efficient selection and management of external vendors (Agency Workers (TCS), CROs, contract labs, etc.). This includes establishing expectations, KPIs and quality/performance metrics, ensuring adequate oversight and escalation pathways, and driving vendor accountability for delivery, cost discipline and compliance.
• In collaboration with other team members ensure proper progress of development and due diligence activities. This includes scientific and clinical evaluation of external opportunities, contribution to partnership models and support to outbound activities such as preparing assets for spin-out, partnering or strategic sale.
• Accountable for clinical contents and clinical input in regulatory interactions, including trial design alignment and ensuring dossiers are supported by rigorously generated clinical data.
• Lead Protocol Review Meetings (PRC) to ensure scientific and operational quality for all relevant phases.

Job Requirements:

• Medical Doctor. Documented research capabilities, e.g. PhD with international publications and presentations or equivalent. Strong background in early-phase clinical development (Phase I–II) and familiarity with translational strategy, dose-finding methodologies, early proof-of-concept design and decision frameworks.
• 10+ years’ experience from international pharma drug development, preferably including the US. Ability to work and influence across functions at multiple levels. Ability to develop and manage multi-facetted budgets. Quality mindset to ensure adherence to Rules & Regulations (GCP, FDA, EMEA).
• High level of strategic and analytical competence. Fluency in English and an effective verbal/written communicator.
• Innovation mindset, curiosity and forward-thinking approach to problem-solving.
• Capable of navigating a complex organisation, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
• Able to build relationships, negotiate & influence, and manage change in a matrix environment. Ability to leverage and develop a strong network of experts.
• Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Team player, result-oriented with strong work ethic, highly motivated self-starter.

Information for Recruitment Agencies:

Ferring International Center S.A. and all affiliated companies do not accept candidate suggestions from unsolicited third parties. Candidates presented by unsolicited third parties (e.g., recruitment agencies, headhunters, etc.) will not be considered in the hiring process and will not be further reviewed. Furthermore, no contractual relationship exists between Ferring and any third-party submitting candidates in this manner. Ferring is neither obligated nor willing to pay a fee to third parties who submit candidates in this way.

Location: Ferring UK

At Ferring, we’re committed to advocating everyone’s right to build a family. That’s why we’re launching our most inclusive and comprehensive family building benefits package yet. The package recognises the complexities of building a family and aims to remove financial barriers associated with fertility treatment and family building options, by providing financial support and a global minimum standard of 26-weeks of paid parental leave. We’ll offer support for fertility treatments, surrogacy programmes, adoption, egg freezing, counselling and related services, as well as paid leave for fertility treatment and adoption procedures.

Driven by its entrepreneurial spirit and enabled by a decentralised organisational setup, Ferring will harness its world-class competencies in science and business with other innovative technologies to create solutions for patients and doctors. By developing an understanding of people’s needs, we will deliver personalised healthcare solutions, integrating pharmaceutical products with diagnostics, data, devices, education and support services to optimise health outcomes.

Ferring will be the world-leading, most trusted healthcare company in reproductive medicine and maternal health, and a leader in specialty areas within gastroenterology and urology. Each of us at Ferring will contribute to providing innovative solutions to help people live better lives. We will devote significant research and development investment to new therapeutics, life cycle management and next generation healthcare solutions.

As a privately owned, specialty healthcare company that operates globally, Ferring will grow revenues at a rate that is 50% faster than the industry average. We will strive for efficiencies in our business and create flexibility to invest in opportunities to build our future. We are, and continue to be, part of a transparent and aligned company. We strive to best address the needs of patients, stakeholders and customers by collaborating across functions, experimenting and sharing our practices, and continuously learning. We are always guided by the Ferring Philosophy.